CU-Fresno State football game postponed

Saturday’s football game between the University of Colorado and Fresno State has been postponed, university officials decided Friday morning.

After careful consideration, CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano has decided that the university will not hold a football game tomorrow, and that school officials will discuss a possible make-up date for the game.

“Even though the weather is improving, Boulder is still designated as a national emergency site,” the chancellor said. “Our community is hurting. Many of our students are displaced from their homes, including many of our student-athletes. This is not an appropriate time for us to hold a game that would put pressure on the community, both in terms of security/emergency personnel, but also in diverting attention from people in need.”

DiStefano also said that “ensuring the safety of CU affiliates and fans has always been the No. 1 priority.”

Athletic Director Rick George said the decision was made with fans’ opinions in mind.

“We feel that this decision is the appropriate one in light of the circumstances,” George said. “Many of our students, alumni and fans have been affected by the events of this week and again, this is the right decision to make in light of those.”

CU head football coach Mike Macintyre said his players are supportive of the decision.

“Our players have a strong desire to compete, but many of them and many of their friends have personally been affected and I know they support this decision to postpone as well,” he said. “This is the appropriate decision and we are all 100 percent in agreement.”

The Athletic Department will be communicating details as soon as possible with tickets holders regarding how they will be able to utilize the tickets for the make-up date.

This is the third game in CU history that has been postponed; in 1963, the CU-Air Force game in Colorado Springs was delayed two weeks after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; and in 2001, CU was set to travel to Pullman to play Washington State on Sept. 15 but all college games were called off after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. That game was made up in the 2004 season but was played in Seattle.